Tommy Hilfiger Addresses Those Racist Rumors From 1996 One More Time

Have you heard the rumor that Tommy Hilfiger doesn't want minorities wearing his clothes?

It's an old one. It started around 1996 via an email boycott campaign and went something like this: Hilfiger allegedly said something along the lines of that if he had known minorities were going to wear his clothes he wouldn't have made them "so nice" and that he wished they wouldn't wear them; then he went on Oprah and stood by those statements. Of course, none of it is true. He had never even been on Oprah when the rumors started.

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Hilfiger did eventually go on Oprah in 2007 to put the rumors to bed. And last week, as the featured guest in the latest installment of Fern Mallis' 92Y Fashion Icons' series, he talked about them yet again, according to WWD:

We had heard that I was supposedly on “Oprah,” and I had told her that if I had known black people were going to buy my clothes, I wouldn’t have been a designer. I had never been on “Oprah,” and I had never said that. And I would never believe that anyway, nor would I ever say that anyway. Then Joel Horowitz, who was still chief executive of the business, came to me and said, “Do you know in my Jewish community, people are saying that you also don’t want Jewish people wearing your clothes?” Then we read the Filipino tabloids, then we heard from Hispanics [that I didn’t want them wearing my clothes] and pretty soon dogs and cats. It was a rumor and a myth. Oprah invited me [to be on the show to deal with it]. Some people may still believe it.

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Despite the wide reach and longevity of the rumor, it didn't hurt business. "It hurt for a long period of time, not from a business standpoint, because our business doubled in that time," Hilfiger said. "It went from $1 billion to $2 billion in that time. But it hurt here [placing hand on his heart]. It really made me believe someone was out for me. We really never found the source but hope that at some point in time people will realize it was just a nasty rumor."

He also talks about acquiring the Karl Lagerfeld brand:

I think he wishes he had done with Karl Lagerfeld what we did with Tommy Hilfiger. I think he was not happy we didn’t invest as much in his brand as he thinks we should have. However, now it’s getting traction and taking hold. In China, he is a rock star. In Japan, he is, as he says, a rock star without the guitar.

I’ve thought of it, but then I have 250 other designers I would have to bring out. The runway isn’t big enough to bring out all of the design team. We have 150 in New York and 200 in Europe. It really wouldn’t make it fair to them, because they’re really working 24-7 on the collections.

A little over a year ago, 29 workers were trapped in a fire and died tragically in a Bangladesh garment factory that produces goods for Tommy Hilfiger, Gap and Kohl's, among other companies. And despite the fact that (according to labor groups) dangerous conditions including locked gates and bad wiring have persisted, and workers have continued to die, each of those companies has continued to do business with these dangerous factories, according to a new investigation by ABC's Brian Ross.
Ross reports that since the fire, officials from PVH Corp. (the company that produces Hilfiger's clothes), Gap and Kohl's would not agree to repeated requests for interviews. So, in Februrary, ABC spoke to Hilfiger at his show during fashion week, where he told reporters, "We will never manufacture clothes in any of those factories ever again." ABC was then kicked out of the venue by security and it turned out what Hilfiger had said was a lie. A few days later, Hilfiger admitted, "I did make a mistake in telling you that I would imagine we'd be pulling out of Bangladesh when in fact that wasn't true."
So why is he still using those hazardous factories to produce his preppy staples?

It's the Tommy Hilfiger brand's 25th birthday this season, and on Sunday we're in for what is sure to be a fabulous runway show, followed by a big party where The Strokes are rumored to be playing.
But until then, Tommy wants to get into your head. The company has launched a new ad campaign entitled Meet the Hilfigers--you might have noticed it in the September books--featuring Fall 2010 runway looks. But this isn't your typical print campaign. Each model plays a character, from wannabe actor Noah to off-kilter socialite Issie. (You can read all about them here.) Starting today, the Hilfigers will begin making public appearances. First at the US Open, then at Fashion's Night Out.
Here's the social media bit: Each of the characters--Chloe, Noah, Jacquelyn, and Lea--will be broadcasting their "lives" via Twitter. Their handles will be announced shortly via the official Tommy Hilfiger Facebook and Twitter pages.
This is all kind of goofy, but in a good way. (Plus, it doesn't hurt the Hilfiger boys are all pretty cute.) So many big brands--luxury, mass, and in-between--are ultra lazy when it comes to social media. They think throwing up a Facebook page and calling it a day works--it doesn't. We applaud Tommy for doing something different and are eager to see how it pans out.

Pratt Institute’s Board of Trustees conceived the Legends Awards in 1999 to honor icons within the worlds of art and design, whose accomplishments and values resonate with those of the school. The event is also a scholarship benefit for Pratt students, 80% of whom require financial aid to pursue their educations. Marc Jacobs, Julian Schnabel, Takashi Murakami and Bruce Weber are among past recipients.
In the 25th year of his brand, Tommy Hilfiger was one of the night’s honorees. He told us the best part of the night was reuniting with friends and supporters who believed in him since the very beginning, including his original backer Mohan Murjani, and George Lois, who created his first advertising campaign. “It’s kind of a fun, special night because I have a great group of people with me. It’s all about the people you surround yourself with.”
The night culminated in a performance by Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne Cash. Music has played a major part in Tommy’s branding lately. The Strokes performed at the designer’s fashion week bash and he recently launched a music-themed fragrance and and accompanying digital radio station called LOUD, on which he collaborated with the Ting Tings, who will headline a LOUD European tour.